Custodian may face loss of job after school fire

By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

The janitor accused of causing the fire that burned down James Monroe Elementary School in Edison in March is facing tenure charges.

Schools Superintendent Richard O’Malley, through a 66-page complaint filed April 28 by the Board of Education’s counsel, Schwartz Simon Edelstein & Celso of Whippany, charged Jerome C. Higgins, 48, of East Brunswick, with “neglect, misbehavior and/or other offenses including but not limited to insubordination; intentional violation of the law and school policies; and intentional and knowing and/or reckless or grossly negligent disregard for the safety, health and well-being of employees, students, the community and school property; resulting in, among other things, the total destruction of the James Monroe Elementary School.”

Higgins was assigned to the school as the facilities manager for the 2013-14 school year. His primary function was to oversee the custodial operations of the school to ensure a safe, clean and comfortable environment.

As facilities manager, Higgins was required to demonstrate knowledge of firesafety laws and proper handling of hazardous materials.

On March 22, Higgins entered the school at approximately 4:51 p.m. and left the building at approximately 5:14 p.m. It was determined that no one else entered the building before or after Higgins was there. While he was there, he allegedly smoked at least one cigarette. Before exiting the building, he failed to extinguish the cigarette completely and placed it in a trash container, according to the complaint.

The charges against Higgins include smoking on school grounds — which is a violation of board policy — failure to extinguish a cigarette, destruction of board property, repeatedly smoking on school grounds and lying to the principal.

According to the charges, Lynda Zapoticzny, principal of James Monroe, knew that Higgins was a heavy smoker and had asked him if he had been smoking in the building. Higgins had responded, “No, absolutely not.”

Higgins later admitted to police that he threw a cigarette that he smoked inside James Monroe into a trash container that ignited the fire.

Two days after the fire, Higgins was charged with a disorderly persons offense for allegedly smoking inside the school and tossing the lit cigarette into a trash bin, igniting the blaze that ultimately consumed the building.

Higgins has the right to submit written statements of position evidence under oath in response to the charges.

The 487 students in kindergarten through fifth grade at James Monroe have been attending school at Middlesex County College.

In the fall, the students will move to a new space at St. Cecelia’s School on Wilus Way in the Iselin section of Woodbridge, where they will remain for the next two school years.